Iron Work
I got caught by surprise when I saw the progress that Ollie and his crew have made on the steel and iron parts of the wagon.






Both axles are now painted. On one, the 1886 axle there is a mark on a wheel-spoke: "PS&ACL". I can't find out what company this might be but it isn't the same as the name on the axle, which is Steel Peech and Tozer. Any clues about who PS&ACL are would be gratefully received.



Three of the buffers are identical and probably original items but one is slightly larger and flatter and its housing slightly longer than the others. I should like to see these buffers all returned to the restored wagon, the replaced buffer being part of its history that we are attempting to preserve.



In a phone call on Friday Ollie told me that he and John, the engineer, have agreed to use the original metal work wherever possible. I think this is a fine idea. Much of the metalwork is wrought iron and original. Some of it, like one of the brake mechanisms is of a very elegant design which it would be a pity to lose.



Today when I went to take photos of the metal work Ollie and his team were hard at work de-rusting and descaling the metal prior to coating with primer to preserve it. Some of the metal is badly corroded and will have to be built up with weld or filler but none except the springs seems to be beyond recovery.

Wheels

The two sets of wheels were made at different times and different places. One axle was made in 1886 and the other in 1889.
The 1889 manufactured set has this casting mark in the axle:


If I make out that lettering correctly it is "John Brown and Co. Atlas Toughened Steel" and below that "Sheffield"; and the date 1889.
The wheels on this axle have this casting mark on them:

which indicates that they were made in Derby.
Confusing!

The other axle has this mark:

and this date in it:


Ollie dye-tested the axles and wheels and showed that they have no cracks in the castings.

I've done a little research on the internet into Steel, Peech and Tozer, who existed with that name from 1875 until the mid-twentieth century. The Sheffield Atlas steelworks was opened in 1856 by John Brown of Sheffield http://www.tilthammer.com/bio/brown.html There's more information on the development of this Sheffield steel manufacturer here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firth_Brown_Steels

I haven't done extensive research into this subject but finding the casting marks and the ages of the axles and wheels has beeing interesting. If you know anything about these manufacturers I'd like to hear about it.